Justices of the Peace split on civil unions

Sonia Osuna beamed as she declared the woman in a white dress and the woman in a suit standing before her as life partners.

It was the latest of about 30 civil union ceremonies Osuna has performed as a Stratford justice of the peace since they became legal under Connecticut law in October 2005.

She conducted the ceremony with vigor, going so far as to call the union a "marriage" — although under the law here and in 47 other states, it is not recognized as such.

"God does not make a love that is wrong," she told the Stratford couple, Vivien Byrd and Deirdre Simeon.

Osuna is among the justices of the peace in Connecticut who choose to join gay couples in civil unions. Others opt not to perform the ceremony and, unlike their counterparts in Massachusetts, aren't penalized for that decision.

Justices of the peace in Connecticut can refuse to perform a civil union just like they can opt not to do a wedding, for whatever reason.

There are 53,000 justice of the peace slots in the state, but the Secretary of the State's Office estimates that fewer than half of those — 20,000 to 25,000 — are filled.

 Justices of the Peace split on civil unions
Connecticut Post